OverviewThe lives of middle-school students are positively transformed as they find meaning and purpose by excelling at a new sport. Their rural town has been beset by the closing of a major employer and the consequent downward economic spiral. General cynicism prevails until a new foreign exchange teacher arrives and introduces the school to soccer. The transition from football to soccer brings with it a newfound optimism about their abilities and future prospects. Several of the students become soccer champions despite challenging family circumstances. Overcoming the limitations of their home environments, they discover previously underdeveloped talents and abilities. The confidence in soccer is transformed and expanded into a personal sense of self-confidence and self-reliance for each team member.